Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. See our User Agreement and Privacy Policy.

Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. See our Privacy Policy and User Agreement for details.

Beginnings of the Cold War

1.
Post WWII: Shifting US- Soviet Relations• April 1945 – What impression of US-Soviet relations is conveyed? – What accounts for this tone?• March 1946 – How has the tone of international relations changed? – What accounts for this shift in attitude?• Political Cartoons – Compare the messages of the 2 cartoons. – Do they distort or merely highlight the messages contained in the passages? – Which is more effective at conveying the intended message, the passages or cartoons?

3.
Learning Objectives• Explain the growth of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union after Germany’s defeat and Truman’s accession to the presidency.• Describe the early Cold War conflicts over Germany and Eastern Europe and the failure of the United Nations to resolve Soviet-American tensions.• Discuss American efforts to “contain” the Soviets through the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan and NATO.

6.
The Grand Alliance • Competing ideological and geopolitical goals, but in pursuit of a common objective • Tragedy of WWII – true victory would require victors to stop being who they were, & much of what they fought for • Victory over fascism only, NOT authoritarianism!

10.
The “Iron Curtain”From Stettin in the Balkans, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an ironcurtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that linelies the ancient capitals of Central and Eastern Europe. -- Sir Winston Churchill, 1946

14.
Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948-49) Berlin blockade - attempt to starve West Berlin into submitting to the communistsBerlin Airlift - western powers’ airlift of food/supplies to W.Berlin (determination to use all resources to defend Berlin) Berlin could act as the trigger for war between capitalist and communist countries

17.
Truman Doctrine [1947] (video)• Civil War in Greece.• Turkey under pressure from the USSR for concessions in the Dardanelles.• U.S. will support free peoples throughout the world who were resisting takeovers by armed minorities or outside pressures…We must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way.• The U.S. gave Greece & Turkey $400 million in aid.• Criticism: needless polarization? Made SU threat mostly military

26.
Democratic Platform "Our immediate task is to remove the last remnants of the barriers which stand between millions of our citizens and their birthright. There is no justifiable reason for discrimination because of ancestry or religion or race or color."

28.
A Herblock cartoon from March 1949 depicts a glum-looking President Harry S. Truman and “John Q. Public” inspecting worm-ridden apples representing Truman’s Fair Deal proposals such as civil rights and rent controls. The alliance of conservative southern Democrats and Republicans in Congress who successfully blocked many of Truman’s initiatives is portrayed by the worm labeled “Coalition.”Image courtesy of Library of Congress

29.
Discussion QuestionWas the primary threat from the Soviet Union military or ideological? Was the danger that the Soviet army would invade Western Europe or that more and more people in Europe and elsewhere would be attracted to communist ideas?

30.
Learning Objective• Describe the expansion of the Cold War to East Asia, including the Chinese Communist revolution and the Korean War.

31.
Revolution & War in Asia:The Cold War Heats Up! Think about: Which superpower was moresuccessful in achieving its aims as the Cold War “heated up”?

42.
US forces struggled with guerilla tactics from the North and a refugee crisis that clogged roads and UN lines… No Gun Ri -up to 400 South Korean civilians gathered by the bridge were killed by US forces from the 7th Cavalry Regiment. Some were shot above the bridge, on the railroad tracks. Others were strafed by US planes. More were killed under the arches in an ordeal that local survivors say lasted for three days. (BBC – Cold War)

49.
Discussion Question Was Truman right to fire MacArthur when and how he did?

50.
Analyzing the 4 Options • Read through each of the 4 options. • Determine which you feel would have been the best policy for the US to follow in the late 40s. • Why did you select this policy? What are its inherent positives and negatives?